Proclaim the Cross of Christ

Galatians 3:1-2, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”

Paul’s disappointment and anger are clearly seen in his words to the Galatians. He was disturbed in his heart because after they received the gospel by faith in the finished work of Christ, they turned back to the works of the law.

It is foolish to consider attaining salvation by works, and so calls Paul, “O foolish Galatians.” “Who has bewitched you?” This is a term of witchcraft. In other words, “Who has influenced you in an evil way?” To wander away from the biblical gospel is like being bewitched by the evil.

Vivid Proclamation of Christ's Crucifixion

Paul goes on to explain, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified” (Gal. 3:1b). Does this mean that the Galatians witnessed with their eyes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Where was Christ crucified? In Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matt. 16:21).

Where was Galatia? Galatia was a Roman Province, located near the central region of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It is surrounded by Bithynia, Pontus, Cappadocia, and Phrygia. The churches of Galatia include Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, which Paul visited in his first missionary journey.

Galatia and Jerusalem are separated by hundreds of miles. Then how did the Galatians witness with their eyes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ?

This doesn’t speak about seeing the crucifixion of Christ with physical eyes. Paul didn’t say, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly crucified.” He said, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly PORTRAYED AS crucified.” This speaks about the public proclamation of the gospel of Christ Jesus with a clear verbal description of Christ’s crucifixion.

The cross of Christ speaks of man’s sin for which He was crucified. The cross of Christ demonstrates God’s love towards sinners. The cross of Christ manifests the satisfaction of God’s justice. The cross of Christ reveals the propitiatory sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to reconcile man to God. The cross of Christ shows the only hope of man, which is to believe in the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus to receive God’s gift of eternal life. This is what the gospel of the cross is.

Paul's Passion for the Cross of Christ

When we examine the ministry of Paul, we observe that God had wrought great miracles through this man. He was a man filled with the knowledge of the Scriptures. He had supernatural experiences. He walked in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was an extraordinary apostle. He was a church planter. He was a disciple-maker. He was a fundraiser who helped numerous needy believers.

In spite of all these great gifts and accomplishments, Paul’s focus and emphasis were on proclaiming the crucified Lord. Like the sun that shines, giving light to all the earth, so the cross of Christ shone over Paul’s entire ministry.

Elsewhere Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). He even said, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).

Paul didn’t proclaim the crucifixion of Christ as a passing remark, as many do today. The cross was not peripheral but absolutely central to his message. What the Lord Jesus did on the cross drove everything that Paul spoke and did. The message of the cross permeated every cell of his body.

When Paul preached the gospel to the people, the Lord Jesus was clearly presented to them as crucified. According to Paul, there is no gospel without the cross. How precisely, emphatically, vividly, passionately, magnificently, he proclaimed the gospel of Christ Jesus that it was as if the listeners saw the crucifixion of the Lord.

Proclaim the Cross of Christ

This is how we must proclaim the gospel. The listeners must clearly see with the eyes of the heart the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They may forget almost everything we speak but not the cross because of our vivid description of it and emphasis on it. Our proclamation of the gospel-centered on the cross must leave an indelible mark on their minds.

It is the cross which discloses Christ as the unique Savior from all the so-called saviors of the world and of other religions. Jesus is the only Savior of the world because He is the only One who went to the cross to save the world. We cannot exalt Christ without elevating His cross.

Therefore, the effective presentation of the gospel is portraying before the eyes of people the Lord Jesus Christ as crucified. Let us resolve, like Paul, to proclaim Christ and Him crucified.

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A More Important Question Than “Why Kattappa Killed Baahubali?”

The movie “Baahubali: The Beginning” in 2015 left the audience with a burning question, “Why Kattappa killed Baahubali?” The media has created so much hype on this question all over India and beyond that crowds have flocked to watch the recent release of “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.” They were eager to find an answer to this mystery. This movie is said to have made an all-time record in the Indian film industry.

Multitudes of people have found an answer to their long awaited question after watching the movie, but what happened after that? They all went back to their usual routine of life. It did not make any difference in their lives, except that it brought some momentary thrill to their emotions and millions of money to the makers of the movie.

I still do not know why Kattappa killed Baahubali. And even if I come to know, it may satisfy my fleeting curiosity, but it is in no way going to change my life. It is not a question of utmost importance.

However, there is a question more important than “Why Kattappa killed Baahubali?” It is, “Why was Jesus killed?” Unlike the question in the Baahubali movie, this is a real question, for Jesus was really killed on the cross. This is not an entertaining idea, but an eternal truth. The importance and seriousness of this question cannot be exaggerated. This is the question that can change your life for eternity.

Before going further, it should be noted that although it was the joint effort of both Jews and Romans in putting Jesus to death, the Lord Jesus voluntarily surrendered Himself to be killed by them. He asserted, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (Jn. 10:17, 18).

Moreover, His death did not take Him by surprise, for the Lord Jesus predicted His own death before He was killed: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise” (Mk. 9:31).

But, why was Jesus killed? Author John Piper wrote the book "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die". This article briefly presents three reasons why Jesus was killed. Or, it may be more appropriate to ask, “Why did Jesus voluntarily lay His life on the cross?”

1. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO RECONCILE US TO THE TRUE, LIVING GOD

The Holy Scripture discloses that there is only One, True, Living God who is Self- Existent, Creator, Infinite, Sovereign, Unchanging, Incomparable, Holy, Loving, Personal, and Eternal (Exo. 3:14; Ps. 71:16; 86:8; 115:15; 147:5; Heb. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Jn. 4:16; Isa. 40:11; 1 Tim. 1:17).

At one time the human race knew this God intimately, but through sin, all mankind became separated from God. Man in his sinful state has lost the godly knowledge and relationship with this wonderful God, consequently becoming His enemy.

However, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).  Christ died so that we would be reconciled to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and walk in intimate fellowship with Him (Rom. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:18).

2. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS

The Holy Scripture declares that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

In order to save us from this eternal death, “He (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 Jn. 3:5). “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5). “He (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26).

Since Christ died for the sins of people, our sins are forgiven only in Christ, for He alone sacrificed His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

3. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE

The Holy Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). When we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, God forgives our sins in Christ, our penalty for sin is blotted out and we receive the gift of eternal life. In Christ Jesus, instead of eternal death, there is eternal life.

Stated another way, if the wages of sin is eternal death for sinners, then the wages of Christ’s death is eternal life for those who believe in Him. Christ Jesus died and rose from the dead so that those who believe in Him will also rise from the dead to eternal life. In His own words, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live...Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26)

CONCLUSION

Dear friend, “Why was Jesus killed?” is the most important question on the face of the earth. It is so important because the eternal destiny of your life (and of everyone) is hinged upon your acceptance or rejection of what Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Would you call upon Jesus with repentance for the forgiveness of your sins and for the gift of eternal life? Assuredly, you will be amazed to see yourself changed, not merely for a moment, but forever.

Related Articles:

• Dadagiri to Gandhigiri
• He Transformed My Life

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Enquiries: 

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Are We Suffering DIFFERENTLY from the World? [Part Two]

  Click here to read Part One 

2. Suffering for the Gospel

The Great Commission of the Lord Jesus was to go and preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19). The proclamation of the gospel of Christ is the responsibility of all believers of Christ Jesus. Some do this locally and some globally. All have to work to accomplish this glorious task before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, as we all know, to preach the gospel is not a welcoming experience. The early disciples had to face great suffering for the spread of the gospel of Christ. But they counted this as a great privilege and blessing.

When the apostles were beaten and were charged not to speak in the name of Jesus, it is written, “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41).

What a strange reaction! They were neither ashamed for being publicly humiliated nor were they intimidated by the scourgings and beatings. Rather, they counted themselves worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name of the Lord Jesus.

What happened next? “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:42)

The book of Acts is a record about persecution for the gospel of Christ. In the New Testament, most Scriptures that speak about suffering, they speak in the context of either for being a Christian or for proclaiming the gospel of Christ. And many modern believers draw comfort from these Scripture for suffering like the people of the world, rather than unlike the world, i.e. for the gospel of Christ Jesus.

To the believers in Philippi, Paul encouraged, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but ALSO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (1:29). He wrote to the Thessalonians, “no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that WE ARE DESTINED FOR THIS” (1 Thess. 3:3). He also encouraged Timothy, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8).

Paul suffered for the gospel. The believers too suffered for the gospel. They knew they were destined for this. Are we suffering for the gospel? Are we preaching the gospel and facing rejection, insults and persecution? Do we know that we are called to suffer and are appointed to suffer for Christ?

In personal or corporate meetings, when asked to share our problems and sufferings, we immediately express that we are suffering due to sickness, troubles in job, interpersonal problems in family, lack of money and material comforts, children’s security, no proper house, loss of hair and beauty…etc.

Leonard Ravenhill was right, “The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.”

Candidly, how many us are suffering for the gospel? I feel ashamed to confess that I am not suffering much for the gospel. I am encouraged by the Word to arise and preach the gospel and suffer for the gospel. What a blessed suffering!

If we are not suffering for the gospel, it is because we are NOT preaching the gospel. Everyone who preaches the gospel will suffer. 

Even many pastors and preachers are not suffering for the gospel. This is because they are not preaching the gospel to unbelievers, but preaching sermons only to believers, enjoying their praise and applause.

The world today is becoming so hostile to the exclusive message of the gospel of Christ that we face inevitable suffering if we courageously proclaim the gospel. Our Lord Jesus already said, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

Remember, if we are not preaching the gospel, we are not living for our Lord who loved us and laid His life for us. If we are not suffering for the gospel, we are not suffering for Christ. As believers of Christ, we are called to live for Christ and suffer for His gospel and glory.

O, how Paul expressed his passion to share in Christ’s sufferings! (Phi. 3:10) He said, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.” (2 Tim. 2:8-9)

Do we have this passion to suffer for Christ and for His gospel?

Let us stop focusing and complaining about our suffering like the world does. Of course, we have to pray and trust in God to help us in our earthly troubles. But let our suffering be different from the world. Let us also suffer for the gospel. Let us not be afraid of the suffering for the gospel. Let us rejoice in our suffering for the gospel. Like the early disciples, let us count ourselves blessed to suffer for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).

Let us not love our lives and abstain from preaching the gospel. The Lord Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

Remember, we suffer for Christ only on earth, and our life on earth is short. Let us not miss this privilege. Let us preach the gospel and partake in the glorious privilege of suffering for Christ.   Click here to read Part Three